Great product photos are essential for attracting customers and making your products stand out on your marketplace listings.

Fortunately, you don’t need an expensive camera to take high-quality photos—your smartphone can do the job! Follow this step-by-step guide to take stunning product pictures that will elevate your brand and help increase sales.

CLEAN YOUR LENS

Before you start, always make sure your smartphone lens is clean. Dust or smudges on the lens can make your photos look blurry. Use a microfiber cloth to gently wipe the lens.

LIGHTING IS KEY

Lighting is the most important factor in creating a great photo. Natural light is your best friend for product photography.

Tips for Lighting:

Shoot in natural light: Position your products near a large window or shoot outside on a bright but overcast day to avoid harsh shadows. Natural light creates soft, flattering shadows.

Avoid direct sunlight: Direct sunlight can create harsh shadows and blow out details. If the sun is too bright, diffuse the light by hanging a white sheet or curtain over the window to soften it.

Use additional light sources if needed: If natural light isn’t available, you can use lamps or lightboxes. Make sure to use soft, even lighting from multiple angles to reduce harsh shadows.

SET UP A SIMPLE BACKGROUND

A clean, uncluttered background helps your product stand out. You don’t want distractions pulling attention away from the product.

Tips for Backgrounds:

Use a plain background: White or light-colored backgrounds are ideal as they make your product pop. You can use a large piece of white poster board or a fabric backdrop.

Avoid busy patterns: A plain background keeps the focus on your product.

For outdoor shots, choose simple surroundings: If photographing outside, use a simple, natural backdrop, such as greenery or a wooden surface, to complement your product.

STABILIZE YOUR CAMERA

To ensure your photos are sharp and not blurry, you need to stabilize your phone. If you don’t have a tripod, you can make use of household items.

Tips for Stabilization:

Use a tripod: A smartphone tripod will give you the most stability for sharp images. They are inexpensive and a great investment for product photography.

DIY stabilization: If you don’t have a tripod, prop your phone up against a sturdy object, such as a stack of books, or hold it steady with both hands and tuck your elbows into your body for stability.

Use the timer: Even with stabilization, the act of pressing the button can cause minor movement. Use the timer function on your phone to take the photo after a few seconds, allowing your phone to be completely still.

FRAME AND COMPOSE YOUR SHOT

Good composition ensures your product is the center of attention. Keep it simple but make sure your product is presented in the most appealing way.

Composition Tips:

Center your product: In most cases, centering your product in the frame will provide the most balanced and professional look.

Leave some space around your product: Don’t crowd the frame. Leave a little space around your product to allow it to breathe visually.

Take multiple angles: Shoot from different angles to show all aspects of your product. Front, back, side, and close-up detail shots give potential customers a full view.

FOCUS ON YOUR PRODUCT

Make sure your product is in sharp focus to highlight its details. Use your phone’s focus feature to ensure the subject is crisp and clear.

Focus Tips:

Tap to focus: Tap the screen where the product is located to ensure the camera focuses on it. This is especially helpful for close-up shots.

Lock the focus: On some smartphones, you can lock the focus by pressing and holding on the product until the focus is fixed. This helps if you are shooting multiple shots from the same angle.

CAPTURE DETAILED CLOSEUPS

Close-up shots allow customers to see the texture and finer details of your product, which can help build trust.

EDIT YOUR PHOTOS FOR A POLISHED LOOK

Once you’ve taken your photos, use simple editing tools to make your product photos look even more professional.

Editing Tips:

Use free editing apps: Apps like Canva, Snapseed, or Lightroom offer easy editing tools for smartphones.

Adjust brightness and contrast: Enhance the brightness and contrast to make your product stand out, but avoid over-editing. Keep it natural.

Crop and straighten: Crop out any unwanted background distractions and straighten the image if needed.

Use filters sparingly: Stick to minimal editing for a clean, true-to-life look. Over-filtering can make your products look unnatural.

KEEP YOUR PHOTOS CONSISTENT

Consistency in your product photos helps create a cohesive and professional look for your brand. Use the same background, lighting, and style for all your photos.

Consistency Tips:

Use the same setup: Once you find a setup that works, use it for all your product shots to create a uniform look across your listings.

Save presets in editing apps: If you’re editing your photos, save your settings as presets so you can apply the same adjustments to future photos quickly and easily.

MORE TIPS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

Show the product in use: If applicable, take photos of your product being used or styled in context to give customers a better understanding of size, scale, and functionality.

Include props sparingly: A few simple props, such as greenery or rustic textures, can add interest to your product photo without overwhelming it. Keep the focus on your product.

Check your phone’s camera settings: Many smartphones have features like portrait mode, pro mode, or manual settings that allow you to adjust exposure and focus for a more professional look. Experiment with these to enhance your photos.

By providing this easy-to-follow guide, you empower farmers to showcase their products professionally using just their smartphone, which adds tremendous value to their brand and marketplace presence.